PL Prize Countdown, #2: Don’t You See?

We have been counting down the top finishers in the Power Line Prize competition, arriving now at number two, a song called “Don’t You See?” This song, written by Jason Nyberg and performed by his nine-year-old daughter, was actually my favorite of the more than 200 entries in the contest.

The Nybergs get a $15,000 prize for this song–on which, as the extremely catchy song notes, they’ll be paying some taxes.

Mr. Nyberg is a well-known musician who has conducted orchestras as far away as Prague, scored a number of films and written television commercials, as well as composing for events like the Miss America Pageant and the World Series. I think “Don’t You See?” is a terrific song, and the lyrics are simple but profound. I asked Mr. Nyberg about his song; he responded, in part:

The focus of my message is really in the hook – “Dear Uncle Sam – the more you give me the less I have.” It’s saying that even with the best intentions, all the bloated government entitlements that are supposed to help us end up leaving us worse off, because we can’t afford them, thus causing taxes to go up. So they give us something, but end up taking more back. I thought if I could express that from a child’s point of view, I good drive home that simple truth.

The complete lyrics are posted below. My kids, by the way, think the “tax rap” near the song’s end is the best part. So, here it is: “Don’t You See?” You can listen to it here or on YouTube, or play or download it by following the link below:

Now, send this viral! Comment below, using Facebook, and check the box that says “Post to Facebook,” so that all of your friends will see it. And stay tuned, because the grand prize number one winner is going to be announced soon.

Here are the lyrics:

DON’T YOU SEE?

Daddy came home
a little early today
Somethin’ bout layin off
and cuttin’ pay

Boss is makin’ changes
’cause times are tough
the dollar’s goin down,
and taxes goin’ up

Daddy says that Washington
is out of touch.
Government’s spendin’
way too much

So I thought about
what I could do
And that’s why
I’m writin’ to you….

CHORUS:

Don’t you see
Dear Uncle Sam
The more you give me
The less I have

I can’t afford
your charity
I got my freedom
Now Let me be

That’s America…
and that’s who I am
Dear Uncle Sam

VERSE 2:
Stop tryin’ to give me
what you think that I need,
I’d rather have my family
watchin’ over me